An X-ray binary is a two star system which, as its name suggests, is bright in X-ray wavelengths. It comprises of a regular star which transfers matter on to a compact stellar remnant like a neutron star or a black hole. As the matter spirals in to the compact object it creates a disk-shaped structure referred to as an accretion disk. Accretion disks are usually very hot and emits all types of radiation.
For my research I used optical wavelengths to study the outer regions of the accretion disk and the donor star and while using X-ray wavelengths to look at the inner regions of the accretion disk that is close to the neutron star or black hole. The optical wavelengths allowed me to explore interesting phenomena in the outer disk. Some such phenomena are the ‘hotspot’ where the material from the donor star hits the disk and ‘stream-disk overflow’ phenomena where matter essentially bounces off the disk edge and crashes back at a different location. The X-ray wavelengths allowed me to explore how the compact object interacts with its immediate surroundings and understand the physics of what goes on close to these objects.
My thesis comprised two parts which are summarily described within the links below.
